Nefrotect capsule
What You Should Know About Your Microbiome
Your body’s microbiome is a delicate system of “good” and “bad” microorganisms. They work together to maintain your health. If the balance between good and bad microorganisms is imbalanced, you’ll feel it.
The organisms in your microbiome are bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Every person has a different combination of microorganisms, so your microbiome is unique. This uniqueness makes treating problems with your microbiome difficult.
Dysbiosis. An imbalance in your microbiome, or dysbiosis, can have severe complications. Dysbiosis can lead to:
New allergies
Autoimmune diseases (inflammatory bowel disease or type 1 diabetes) Cancer
Psychiatric disorders
Probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria. When you get sick, you may have too much bad bacteria. Probiotics help fight the bad bacteria until you feel better.
When you have an imbalance in your microbiome, you can take probiotic supplements to restore balance. A well-balanced diet generally provides enough good bacteria to maintain your microbiome. Make sure your diet is adequate before seeking supplements.
Prebiotics. The microorganisms in your body need to eat. Probiotics feed on prebiotics, complex carbohydrates such as inulin, pectin, and starches.
Postbiotics. Postbiotics are a byproduct of probiotics when they eat prebiotics. Their goal is the same: maintain your microbiome. Postbiotics achieve their goal with more control and fewer risks compared to probiotic supplements.
Factors that affect your microbiome. For most people, their microbiome is a stable balance. Your unique microbiome, age, diet, and environmental factors can influence your microbiome’s stability. You can use probiotics and postbiotics to restore your microbiome’s balance.
What Are Postbiotics?
Don’t forget that microorganisms in your microbiome are living. Postbiotics are substances produced by your microorganisms while they go about their business. These substances are not live microorganisms, but they are still beneficial to your microbiome.
Other names for postbiotics. You may see postbiotics referred to by different names. Some of these names include:
Paraprobiotics
Non-viable microbial cells
Fermented infant formulas (FIFs)
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Postbiotics?
Health benefits. The health benefits of postbiotics aren’t fully understood, but they tend to mimic the health benefits of probiotics. Postbiotics:
Support your immune system.
Prevent inflammation.
Have anticarcinogenic qualities.
Are antimicrobial and prevent infections.
Can lower the risk of cardiovascular events.
Can support oxytocin formation, which helps heal wounds and supports birthing functions.
One of the benefits of postbiotics compared to probiotics is the risks involved. Since postbiotics don’t contain microorganisms, there’s a lower risk of complications from adding new bacteria to your microbiome.
Probiotics are safe for most people. But people with weak immune systems, severe illness, or recovering from surgery can get an infection from probiotics.